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Knights Earn Tie with Wild Finish Against Somerville

The YBL Knights traveled to Somerville to face the 3 time defending champion Somerville Alibrandis at Trum Field. Josh Valerio got the nod vs Somerville earning his first start of the season for the home town team. Valerio faced off against veteran right hander Jon Morse. The Alibrandis struck first in the first inning scoring 3 runs with a Marc DesRoches 3 run homerun over the left center field wall. The Knights plated a run in the top of the second to cut the lead to 3 to 1. Then the rain came. Somerville then went on to score 4 more runs in the 3rd inning to take a commanding 7 to 1 lead. “We had a short bullpen tonight and the way the game was going I turned to Ace DiNapoli to take one for the team” said manager Eric Bellavia. “Ace did more than take one for the team he kept us in the game” DiNapoli a star pitcher in the world of professional wiffleball dazzled Somerville with a plethora of Knuckle curves and wiffleball like pitches. The Knights battling the rain drops, a short bullpen and the 3 time champs managed to chip away before a 5 run 7th inning highlighted by a 2 run bases loaded single by Brad Tardugno. The game went to extra innings with Jeff Allison pitching 2 hitless innings to give the Knights a chance to win it. The game ended in a 10 to 10 tie due to time constraints but all in all a positive tie and a great comeback for EBK. “I’ve been saying all season long that this team has something special. There is no quit on this team. Pitching has carried us but tonight the offense did their job and picked up the pitching” said Eric Bellavia Offensively centerfielder Victor LeBron continued his hot start going 3 for 4 with a walk, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

The Knights also dropped their first game of the season to the Savin Hill Dodgers last Thursday night. Knights pitchers Billy Riggeiri and Branden Eaton held the Dodgers to 4 hits and 1 earned run but it was not enough for the Knights as the offense could only muster up 5 hits and just one run. The Knights lost 2 to 1 in a heartbreaker in Savin Hill. The Knights are now 3 – 1 – 1 on the season.

RRBL Knights game recap:

SALEM, MA – The Knights were riding high after their dismantling of the Red Dogs when they traveled to Salem to take on the division leading Indians. Pat Donohoe LP (5IP, 4H, 2BB, HBP, 3ER) got hit first start of the 2014 season facing off against perennial all-star, Mark Infurna. The Knights started hot with two hits in both the first and second but could only manage one run. It turned out to not be enough to prevail over the Indians, however.

John Scull (1-3; HBP, R) crossed the plate in the first for the Knights’ only run after singling in his first at-bat. He came around on a Eduardo Colmenares (1-3; RBI, SB, CS) line drive up the middle. After the lone run, the Knights stranded men on base for the next innings striking out a total of 12 times including the rare feat of striking out 4 times in the 4th inning.

The wheels came off in the 6th inning after holding the Indians to only 1 run through the first five frames, Donohoe allowed a hit and hit a batter before being pulled for Sean Perkins (1IP, 3H, 3R). Perkins allowed three straight hits to score the go ahead runs putting the victory out of reach for the Knights. The Knights travel to Peabody on Wednesday to face off against the Indians once again to try and regain some ground in their hotly contested conference.

RRBL Knights upcoming games:

Wednesday June 4th vs the Beverly Indians at Peabody High 8pm

YBL Knights upcoming games:

Wednesday June 4th vs the Revere Rockies at Maplewood at Malden Catholic 8pm